Southernmost Flyer Jan. 8, 2016

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016

Eye on the Fleet

yokosuka, japan

VOL. 27 NO. 1

Warriors back in Key West for annual ride

WWW.CNIC.NAVY.MIL/KEYWEST NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, FLORIDA

By Jolene Scholl Southernmost Flyer

(Jan. 1, 2016) Sailors observe fireworks behind the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG65) to celebrate the new year from the flight deck of the Navy’s only forwarddeployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Paolo Bayas

inside: IT’S A NEW YEAR Time to grow! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 STEPPING UP Operation Flat Foot . . . . . . . 3 COMING SOON! Kids Fun Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A LOOK BACK 2015 in photos. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 TOP OF PAGE ONE: An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the ‘Rampagers’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, launches from the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

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hen Soldier Ride brought its first group of wounded warriors to Key West there was little fanfare. Naval Air Station Key West’s commanding officer was among the small group gathered to greet them as they finished the ride at the Southernmost Buoy. Fast forward to 2015, when crowds gathered along the streets to cheer as 60 riders made their way from Boca Chica Field to U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl the Truman Waterfront, Riders participating in the 2015 Soldier Ride are cheered on as they leave Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field. The where they were welcomed 2016 Soldier Ride to Key West is Sunday and will take off from Boca Chica Field at 10:30 a.m. The wounded warriors will ride down U.S. 1 and turn onto North Roosevelt, riding to Palm/Eaton, Simonton, Front and Duval streets and then on to Southard see RIDE page 2 Street and the Truman waterfront, where they will be officially welcomed at a noon ceremony in front of the USCGC Ingham.

VIP visits, ops keep NAS busy in 2015 Seasonal training tempo to ramp up By MC3 Cody Babin Southernmost Flyer

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ith its departments scattering across Boca Chica Field, Truman Annex, Trumbo Point and Sigsbee Park, Naval Air Station Key West is a state-of-the-art facility for airto-air combat fighter aircraft of all military services and provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels.

Listed are some of the highlights of the service demonstrated year-round by Sailors and civilian employees at NAS Key West throughout 2015: Air Operations • Over 10,782 sorties flown by Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Canadian fighters tracked by Tactical Combat Training System, which is the second see 2015 page 5

From NAS Key West Public Affairs

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t’s time to kick the tires and light some fires as combat air training resumes at Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field. With more than 25,000 square miles of open air space and balmy winter weather, NAS Key West is an attractive training location for squadrons whose training sched-

ules can be affected by winter weather. This week, squadrons from NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, began arriving. The Gladiators from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 are frequent visitors with a permanent detachment on Boca Chica Field. see tempo page 3


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Southernmost Flyer Jan. 8, 2016 by Southernmost Flyer - Issuu